"Our priority is to make vocational occupations more significant and prestigious," said Rustam Minnikhanov at the WorldSkills International Board of Directors meeting

It is both a great honour and a big responsibility to host WorldSkills Competition in Kazan. This was announced today by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at the meeting with members of the WorldSkills International Board of Directors led by President of WorldSkills, Simon Bartley.

The meeting took place at the House of Government of Tatarstan.

Welcoming the WorldSkills International management, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the guests once more for the trust they placed in Russia and Kazan.

He reminded that Russia had joined the WorldSkills movement just recently but there is already the outcome we can see as the country holds national competitions, and Russian representatives are participating in the European events.

"We embraced the ideas and values of WorldSkills," said Rustam Minnikhanov. "Since 2014, a programme opening resource centres implementing WorldSkills standards has been launched. Today 31 resource centres are operating in the region. Besides, Tatarstan is also one of the regions holding demonstration exams by WorldSkills standards. For now, 1,347 students have passed the exam in 27 skills."

As Rustam Minnikhanov informed, everything is being done now in Tatarstan to provide WorldSkills Kazan 2019 with all necessary infrastructure. The construction of the Kazan Expo is also underway. "I see no problems when it comes to the venues hosting the Competition," said Rustam Minnikhanov. According to him, 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ matches in Kazan served as a good training to sharpen up all the questions concerning hospitality, security, and volunteers.

President of WorldSkills, Simon Bartley, admitted that he was impressed by the work that had been already done and by tho progress Kazan is showing. Simon Bartley especially underlined how impressed he was by all investments and construction rate of the Kazan Expo. He also noted that when he was speaking to people in the streets of Kazan he realised that many of them knew about WorldSkills.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that Kazan will also play host to the National WorldSkills Competition in May 2019 that will serve as a "dress rehearsal" for WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

According to the President, the WorldSkills movement is well received in society. Societies and enterprises are also interested in development of the movement and in training of young specialists. "Today we understand the importance of human resources and skilled personnel," said Rustam Minnikhanov. "And WorldSkills is working hard to improve an image of vocational occupations. Our main goal is to make vocational occupations more significant and prestigious."

Representatives of the WorldSkills management highly appreciated the WorldSkills Flag Relay as well. As they think, this projects helps increase the movement's visibility, reunite the forces of all participants and make WorldSkills brand more popular.

Press Office of President of Republic of Tatarstan